Philip Thomas, Director of Finance & Disruption, Curtin University­­
“Modern Slavery, what it is and what it means for us.”

Wednesday 6 March 12:30 – 1:30pm

You may well have seen and heard about the recent passing of the “Modern Slavery Act 2018” in Australia at the end of last year. But what is modern slavery? Why are we talking about slavery in 2019, surely this is a problem from the past? How does this affect us, living in Perth?

Philip Thomas will discuss the big picture – what is going on, as best we know, and how refugees and immigrants are at particular risk.

Curtin University’s Centre for Human Rights Education, the John Curtin Gallery and the Refugee Council of Australia invite you to the Festival of Perth exhibition Refuge and a symposium on truth telling and taking action.
The symposium will build on the themes of the exhibition and elevate the experiences of people who have come to Australia to seek asylum. It will also explore the nation’s crisis of responsibility and how we might best work together to address this.RSVP HERE

Curator’s TourWednesday 27 March 12:30-1:30pm

‘Curator’s Tour of REFUGE’

Join JCG Director Chris Malcolm as he discusses “Love Story”, “Mother Tongue” and the finer points of installing complex video works within a gallery space.RSVP HERE

Here and There, Then and Now
Resistance in Sudan and the Sudanese DiasporaWednesday 10 April 12:30 – 1:30pm

Over the last two years, youths of Afro-diasporic heritage, especially those from South and North Sudan have been targets of a vitriolic media campaign aimed at demonising and disempowering them. Yet, it is those very same youths, both in the diaspora and their respective countries who are leaders for positive change.

In this talk, writer and Sudanese refugee Rafeif Ismail will discuss the current youth-led movement against the Bashir dictatorship and consider how the conversations we have around race in Australia can have far-reaching impacts.

Professor Peter Newman AO.Wed 17 April, 12:30 – 1:30pm

‘Should Perth be a City of Refuge’

Cities have only been around for about 8000 years but have become the dominant habitat for humanity. Throughout history there have been cities that have chosen to be places of refuge or sanctuary. The issues raised by the John Curtin Gallery exhibition, Refuge, are used as a backdrop to reflecting on whether Perth should consciously choose to be a city of refuge.RSVP HERE

Previous events

“How I became a refugee” Dr Marilyn MettaWed 13 Feb, 12:30 – 1:30pm

‘How I became a refugee’

Film maker, Dr Marilyn Metta, will screen and discuss her award-winning documentary How I Became a Refugee, which follows the extraordinary journey of a Burmese Chin refugee family from their homeland – where they escaped religious persecution from the military government – to Malaysia before being resettled in Australia.RSVP HERE